New Henry Hudson greenway looking south

EDC’s East River Bikeway and Esplanade Master Plan Report (1996)

(1996) calls for a continuous bikeway and esplanade to run the length of the East River, from the Battery to East 125th Street, and lists plans and concerns for the section from the Battery to East 63rd Street (the greenway already existed from East 63rd to East 125th Street). It divides the East River waterfront from the Battery to East 63rd Street into 10 segments and examines the characteristics, challenges and possibility of implementing a greenway at each location.

In addition to addressing specific segments individually, the East River Bikeway and Esplanade Master Plan Report also addresses design guidelines for mixed-use paths, on-street bike lanes, plants, and architectural elements along the esplanade. It provides schematic designs for all sections of the East River esplanade, discusses the implementation of these designs, and offers costs and alternatives for each of the designs. Most of the plans discussed in the report have been realized. There is a mixed-use waterfront path along most of the East River, and those sections that do not have a waterfront path were considered challenging from the start.

DCP’s Harlem River Greenway Master Plan Plan (2000) identifies as its goal the creation of a multi-use path that runs the length of Harlem River. It gives the history of the area, lists landmarks, and describes existing conditions, destinations, and a recommended route, including an on-street alternative for sections that are difficult to implement. The plan pays particular attention to waterfront access, as several key parcels along the waterfront are privately owned, the plan recommends a multi-phase approach that could take decades to implement. The Harlem River Greenway Master Plan also discusses the area’s difficult topography and presents design guidelines appropriate for the different types of shoreline.

Route 9A near Chambers Street

DPR’s Hudson River Valley Greenway Master Plan (2001) examines the New York City portion of the Hudson River Greenway from West 155th Street in Manhattan north through the entire Hudson River shore of the Bronx. The plan describes the development of New York City’s west side greenway, existing conditions along the Hudson River waterfront and in surrounding neighborhoods, plans and alternatives for greenways along the Hudson River, and detailed inventories of the existing paving in locations close to the water. Overall it provides thorough documentation of the plans for the Manhattan and Bronx sections of the Hudson River Valley Greenway.

EDC’s West Harlem Master Plan (2002) outlines many goals for the area between West 135th Street and St Clair Place, including the creation of a waterside park with a multi-use path. The master plan describes the character of the neighborhood, design guidelines for the path, and its connections to other sections of the greenway. The plan is particularly successful in detailing the context of the path. It places the greenway in the larger design of a waterfront park and discusses its links to other transportation systems in the area.

The Environmental Impact Statement for Riverside South (1992) describes the proposed creation of a 25-acre park that includes a bike and walkway. The EIS provides specific designs and plans for the park and bikeway, including planting schemes, piers, an amphitheater and pedestrian bridges. The EIS also discusses the connections between the Riverside South greenway and the existing Riverside Park. The path has been partly implemented, but other parts of the plan are yet to be realized.

The Environmental Impact Statement for Route 9A reconstruction (1994) and the planting and urban design guidelines for the reconstruction (1996) are not focused on the creation of a multi-use path, but do include pertinent materials. The EIS specifies that as part of the reconstruction, a multi-use path will be built along the Hudson River, and gives a suggested route as well as alternatives. It references the Hudson River Greenway Act of 1991 as an impetus for the creation of the path. The design guide gives specifications for the layout of the path, its planting scheme, and the materials to be used to construct it.